Japanese Bronze Mirror And Lacquer Box, Japan, Edo Period, 18th Century

Japanese bronze mirror and lacquer box, Japan, Edo period, 18th century A heavy and finely cast Japanese bronze mirror decorated with pine trees, cranes which are symbols of longevity. The handle in the center is a turtle which also symbolizes longevity. Edo period, 18th century, Japan. This round mirror with high sides has been very finely cast. The turtle has a domed shell pierced to allow a cord to be passed through for handling or hanging. Surrounding the turtle and the inscription is a landscape with pine trees with stylized needles, two cranes with their 3 young, dense stems of leafy bamboo and a flowering prunus on the left side. All are symbols of longevity. Bamboo also symbolizes resilience and prosperity. Bamboo combined with prunus and pine are called the 3 friends of winter. The other side of the mirror is undecorated but is densely polished, allowing the user to see their reflection in the surface. A five-character mark is cast on the rim. The bronze has a beautiful warm silver patina. This mirror is presented in its original lacquer box, hand decorated in the Kodaiji style with gold lacquer flowers on a black background. The box has some signs of use which are normal for an 18th century box but are in good condition overall. The mirror is also in good condition. The mirror measures 12.3 x 1.6 cm The box measures 14.2 x 5 cm